ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﻣﻧﯾﺎ ﻛﻠﯾﺔ اﻟﺳﯾﺎﺣﺔ واﻟﻔﻧﺎدق ﻗﺳم اﻻرﺷﺎد اﻟﺳﯾﺎﺣﻲ اﻟﻔرﻗﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻟﺛﺔ ﻣﻘرر ارﺷﺎد ﺳﯾﺎﺣﻲ ﺗطﺑﯾﻘﻲ ٤ ﻛود اﻟﻣﻘرر: رس ٣٢٧ Selected pieces from the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria Lecture 2: - Statue of - Statue of Euthenia د. ﻓرج ﻋﺑﯾد زﻛﻲ ﻣدرس اﻻرﺷﺎد اﻟﺳﯾﺎﺣﻲ ﺑﻛﻠﯾﺔ اﻟﺳﯾﺎﺣﺔ واﻟﻔﻧﺎدق - ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﻣﻧﯾﺎ وﺳﯾﻠﺔ اﻟﺗواﺻل: [email protected] Selected Pieces from the Graeco- Roman Museum in Alexandria

Statue of Nilus

Identification card: Material: marble Date: Roman Period, 2nd cent. AD Place of Discovery: Alexandria, Sidi Bishr. The Nile god in ancient Egypt: There was no Nile god in the ancient Egyptian civilization, but there was a deification of the annual flooding; the god Hapy. The ancient Egyptian did not worship the Nile in its abstract form, but sanctified it for being the main source of prosperity and land fertility in the country. God Nilus In Greaeco-Roman Period: The Greeks and Romans on the other hand did worship rivers which they personified as aged representing them with full heads of long locks and flowing beards and mustaches, often depicted, as here, reclining. Several details allude to the role of the River Nile personified as Nilus, the source of bounty and prosperity. In the Graeco- Roman Period, Nilus became the Nile god The Nile Inundation in ancient Egypt and Graeco- Roman Period: The increase in the level of the Nile was measured by an arm (1 arm = 0.52 m). This was done by means of the Nilometers that spread throughout Egypt. The Nilometers were found in some important temples. The most famous Nilometers in Egypt were the one found at Elephantine Island, that at Edfu Temple, and the one at Serapium Temple in Alexandria. The Nile Inundation in ancient Egypt and Graeco- Roman Period: The statues of the god Nilus sometimes had depictions of sixteen children, symbolizing the number of arms necessary for a perfect Nile inundation. Statue of Nilus surrounded by 16 children Description of the statue: . This fine marble statue represents the Nile as a male, called "Nilus," half nude and reclining on his left side. Nilus is depicted as an aged man with heavy curly beard. His head is dorned by fillet of lotus buds.

Description of the statue: . Nilus rests his left elbow on a small hippopotamus. He holds in his left hand a cornucopia (a horn of plenty) which was depicted in the Roman Period filled with fruits and was a symbol of abundance and prosperity. In his right hand he holds a bunch of flowers (wheat stalks) which refers in particular to Egypt’s role as the bread basket of the ancient world. Description of the statue: . The upper part of the ’s body is nude, showing his full and flabby stomach, which may also symbolize the life of plenty and prosperity brought by the flood, while the lower part of his body is draped in a cloak.

. The museum keeps a small figurine of the same type made of lead. The "Nilus" statue is displayed together with a female statue of the Nile called "Euthenia.“ . The cornucopia symbolizes abundance in general.

. The stalks of wheat refer in particular to Egypt’s role as the bread basket of the ancient world.

.The association of Nilus with the agricultural bounty of the land is furthered stressed by the presence of the lotus buds which adorn the fillet in his hair. The annual flooding of the Nile was measured in cubits, each of which might be personified as a nude male child, but here they are collectively represented by a single boy. The presence of a hippopotamus on which Nilus rests his left elbow visually reinforces his identification. Selected Pieces from the Graeco- Roman Museum in Alexandria

Statue of Euthenia Statue of Euthenia

Identification card: Material: marble Date: Roman Period, 2nd cent. AD Place of Discovery: Alexandria, Sidi Bishr. Goddess Euthenia • Euthenia is considered of Alexandrian origin, carrying traits that represent the combination of the Egyptian religion and the Roman religion. In the Roman Period, the god Nilus symbolized youth and the Nile water, while Euthenia symbolized those agricultural fields irrigated by the Nile. Goddess Euthenia • For some scholars, Euthenia was considered the daughter of Nilus and a symbol for growth and prosperity. In the Roman Period, she became his wife. Goddess Euthenia Euthenia widely spread in the Ptolemaic Period and the Roman Period. Her statues resembled to a great extent those of Nilus as to appearance and attributes; such as the cornucopia and the wheat stalks. Euthenia was usually depicted reclining in Roman form. Her head was decorated with the calathos crown, or wheat stalks. Goddess Euthenia • Euthenia was sometimes depicted resting on a hippopotamus, a sphinx, or a small elephant. • The goddess Euthenia became widely famous with the minting of Alexandrian coins as of 11/10 BC. But we find that the goddess was depicted together with her name on one of the first undated Alexandrian coins, minted by August before the year 11/10 BCE. • At the end of the rule of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138– 161 CE), a new depiction of Euthenia appeared on coins, where she became goddess of commercial sailing. Goddesses linked to Euthenia: There was a connection between Euthenia and the Egyptian goddess Isis. Nilus symbolized water, and therefore Euthenia became a symbol for land irrigated by the water of the Nile. The role of land fertilized by the water of the Nile originally dates back to Isis. From here arose the connection between the two goddesses. Goddesses linked to Euthenia: There is also a connection between Euthenia and the Greek goddess , who was originally the goddess of wheat, then became goddess of cultivated lands. Euthenia was also merged with the goddess , and was depicted reclining on her side, holding wheat stalks in one hand and the royal staff in the other, surrounded by two boats. The marble statue represents Euthenia, Greek goddess of nature and abundance, as the goddess of the Nile. Reclining on her left side, she is shown wearing the garment of Isis. Her arm rests on a crouching sphinx, the symbol of Egypt. She holds in her left hand a vessel for holy water and is surrounded by eight children, representing half the number of measuring units (cubits) of Nile flood height required for a bountiful harvest which is sixteen cubits. The museum displays this statue together with the statue of the god of the Nile, "Nilus." Description of the statue: • This statue depicts the goddess Euthenia reclining on her left side, she is shown wearing the garment of Isis. Her left arm rests on a crouching sphinx, the symbol of Egypt. The goddess holds in her left hand a vessel for the the sacred water of the Nile . • The hair of Euthenia is coiffed like Isis; in the form of twisted strands falling on the shoulders. Euthenia is wearing a chiton decorated at the chest with the Isis knot. Description of the statue: • The goddess is surrounded by eight children, symbolizing half of the number of measuring units (cubits) of Nile flood height necessary for guaranteeing an abundant harvest which is 16 arms (1 arm = 0.52 m).

• The museum displays this statue together with the statue of the god of the Nile, "Nilus."